The SGP was re-vamped this year with a new (old) format, and 3 changed venues. The poison chalice of the last SGP of the year, went to Lonigo Italy, who had the problem that the World Champion was know for weeks beforehand, hardly helping ticket sales. This could be a great GP track as the racing was the best of the season, but somehow it was all a little ‘flat’ with the World Champion back to his invincible best. A crowd looking to number about 4000 must have been disappointing, but it must be a lot less expensive for all concerned than the now quickly forgotten Vikingship Stadium in Norway that always seemed to have even less paying ‘punters’. The SGP was downsized in Sweden where two ‘proper’ tracks replaced the Olympic Stadium Stockholm, and Ullevi, neither of which used to set the world on fire with good racing, this was rectified with two good GPs staged in Sweden this year. I always have to laugh at the term ‘man made tracks’, aren’t all tracks ‘man made’, or did God produce a few during the creation period? anyway I digress.
The series started in Wroclaw in late April with a win for Tony Rickardsson, surprises where the 4th place for Lindback and only 6 points for Gollob in his own back yard. Moving onto Sweden and Eskilstuna in mid May and Rickardsson was prevented from winning the opening 2 rounds only by the final having to be re-run because of a tangle between the 2 Pedersens, whilst he was well in front. In the re-run Crump made a major effort around the outside that was rewarded with his first GP win of the season. On we moved to Slovenia and the great Krskro track, a place I will always remember for seeing Collins and Jessup win the World Best Pairs title in the eighties, Zager was the wildcard, and was a super addition to the series, Nicki Pedersen got what was to be his only rostrum place of the year, and yet again Rickardsson destroyed the opposition. The two centre pieces of the SGP where next, but nothing changed. Rickardsson won in both Cardiff and Copenhagen, the writing was on the wall, barring injury he was going to secure his sixth World title. The shock in Cardiff was that lesser lights Bjarne Pedersen, Hampel, and Andersen all finished in the top 4, with only Rickardsson of the recognised ‘stars’ performing as they should. Onto Prague, and the GP that got away from Scott Nicholls, super with only one defeat in qualifying, but then having a disaster losing to Pedersen B and Hampel in the first semi final. The second half of the season was pretty unremarkable;
Rain in Mallila delayed the start, the usual good Bydgoszcz fare, and a good final GP in Italy, ending up with a world 1-2-3 of Rickardsson, Crump and Adams, which I don’t think that anyone can argue about.
So what about individual riders performances?
Rickardsson Won six out of nine and could easily won 7 as he was leading the final in Eskilstuna, had a blip in Bydgoszcz as he just needed a few points to win the overall title. By far and away the best rider for 2005, richly deserves the title. On this evidence the man to beat next year.
Crump Easily the world number 2, and put up a reasonable fight, would have been close to the title in any other year. Nightmare at Cardiff when he couldn’t do anything right and was on the end of a couple of controversial refereeing decisions. With a bit more luck, could be the serious challenger to Trick next year.
Adams Consistent rather than spectacular got third place by virtue of his performance at the last event. Cost me money as I had N Pedersen each way, was only on the rostrum once, downhill from here.
Pedersen N Only got 34 points from the last 4 GPs, not good enough to mount a serious challenge. Seemed more restrained later in the year with not many controversial incidents, but hey these guys are chasing the World title, so I’m never that critical of Nicki’s tactics, the referees are paid to stop them by exclusions. I don’t think that Nicki will be World Champion again.
Hancock Getting to the veteran stage, so good performances ‘rolling back the years’ but time is catching up with Greg. On the slide next year.
Pedersen B Mr Inconsistent of the top 8. 3 scores over 15, but also 3 under 5, if he can sort this out he could be on the way up, perhaps a better bet than Nicki Pedersen for next year.
Gollob Consistently poor by his high standards. Lives for the Bydgoszcz round. May be even lower next year
Jonsson Fairly consistent end to the season. Needs to make that step to the next level
All the above have qualified for next year by right.
And now the people sweating on being nominated for next year.
Nicholls Should be doing better than this. Has cost me in excess of £20 this year with Will Hill! Needs a bit better luck and at times better preparation. Typical was the Prague GP when he was the best rider on show, but didn’t convert it to 25 big points, incidentally with which he would have been in the top 8. Needs to improve next year but is a certainty to be invited back in.
Lindback Tailed off after a good start, Great prospect, definitely will be invited back.
Hampel Finished 11th from 6 GPs, if you average it out would have finished 6th without the injuries. Big year next year will be invited back.
Andersen Disappointing, must be a question mark over further participation.
Richardson As Andersen, but may be saved by the necessity to have 2 Brits in the GP series
Sullivan Health problems but his time is gone, bye bye Flyin’ Ryan
Chrzanowski Waste of time, BSI need to review the policy of putting in the World U21 Champion, although having said that Lindback finished second to him.
Zagar Would include him on the strengths of the two GPs he competed in.
So who would my 16 be for next year?. Obviously the Top 8, then, Nicholls, Lindback, Hampel, Richardson, Zager, and a surprise choice Rune Holta, who can compete at this level. The last 2 places are one for the U-21 champion, as yet that is undecided, and a Wild Card for each GP. On balance that is as close to the genuine World Top 16 as you are going to get!
What about the series as a whole?
I would love to see it expand to ten or twelve rounds (Aus, NZ, Paris, Dublin, Germany, Amsterdam?) However the logistics of getting people down under may prevent some of that. BSI have taken steps to cut costs this year and we may have seen the SGPs grow to the biggest number of rounds that they are going to get to. Could we have another British round? however the dearth of genuine British talent who can could compete at this level is a worry.